Gliederung

Objective

Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation (ACT) has become increasingly widespread in the therapy of discrete cartilage defects. The objective of this prospective study was to examine the medium-term results of a Matrix-coupled Chondrocyte Transplantation (MACT) as a modification of the standard method for the treatment of knee joint cartilage defects and to determine possible advantages or disadvantages of this method.

Method

Between April 2001 and December 2003, 54 patients with discrete cartilage defects were treated by MACT in the knee joint. MRT was performed preoperative in all patients and could be repeated in all patients after 6 and 12 months. The knee joint function, activity level and quality of life of the patient were evaluated pre- and postoperative using the modified Cincinnati Score, the ICRS, the Tegner-Activities-Index and the Lysholm Scores.

Results

49 of the 54 patients were satisfied or more than satisfied with the operation results. All subjective, semi-objective or objective parameters included in the scores showed improvement. Magnetic resonance tomography after 12 and 24 months showed healed cartilage surfaces.

Conclusion

In the follow-up thus far, the results have corresponded to the values reported in the literature for the standard method ACT. However, in MACT there is no periosteum excision or attachment, so that a somewhat smaller access can be selected.